Braham Two Points Better In Clash Of State Ranked Teams

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for the complete game box score

For additional photos click here to view our complete photo gallery

Jan 3, 2012

Wes Vork-NSO

ESKO – It isn’t every day that a highly touted event meets, let alone exceeds its lofty billing; but that is exactly what happened when the 8-0 Esko Eskomos met the 10-1 Braham Bombers for a girls basketball matchup Tuesday night in Esko. In the end, Braham was a mere two points better than the Eskomos, squeaking out a 56-54 win.

In what was a rematch of the past two Section 7AA finals the class AA defending champion Braham came into the contest ranked second in the state having lost only one game while the #5 ranked Eskomos sported a perfect 8-0 record.

Hot shooting early coupled with a stiff defense propelled the Eskomos to an 8-0 lead while holding Braham scoreless for the first four minutes of the contest. Rebekah Dahlman started a 7-0 run for the Bombers with a 3-pointer to get the Bombers close at 8-7. Strong inside play by Savannah Trapp, Megan Reuer, and Brooke Schramm set Esko on a 13-4 run to create a 10 point lead and open the game up a bit for the Eskomos at 21-11.

Poor shooting both from the field and the free throw line plagued the Bombers with Dahlman going to the line 10 times in the first half but only cashing in on five of her free throws. After trading baskets for the remainder of the half Esko took an eight point 27-19 lead into the locker room.

The second half started much like the first half ended with Trapp and the Eskomos dominating down low with Trapp scoring eight of the first 10 of Esko’s points to extend the lead to 12 points at 37-25. Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow hit a 3-pointer for the Bombers to get the lead back to single digits and that is where Dahlman broke out of her shooting slump to jumpstart the Braham comeback.

Dahlman single-handedly scored 16 of the next 18 Bomber points, capped by an incredible spin move at the basket to give Braham its first lead at 46-45 with 4:03 remaining in the contest. One minute later Steph Bandelin hit a big bucket that gave the lead back to Esko at 47-46. Trapp and Schramm each hit a big basket in the waning moments, but the problem was their two point shots were answered by 3-pointers from Dahlman and Sorenson-Giffrow. Down 53-52 Esko was forced to start fouling with :24 second remaining and could get no closer as the Bombers closed things out at the line for a 56-54 win.

Trapp had a huge night for the Eskomos, scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Schramm also had a nice night, scoring 10 points, most of which were in the lane making the Bombers pay when they forced Trapp away from the basket. Marissa Shady also had 10 points including two key 3-pointers. Megan Reuer finished with six points while Steph Bandelin rounded out the Eskomo scoring with two points.

After being held to just 11 first half points by a stiff Eskomo defense, Dahlman broke out in the second half with 29 points to lead all scorers with 40 total points for the game. No other Bomber came close to double figures with Sorenson-Giffrow the second leading scorer with six points.

Esko will be off until Monday when they travel to Virginia to take on the Bluedevils. Braham will travel to Isle on Thursday evening.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com